Implementing AWS Single Sign-On (SSO) Crash Course

TechOps Examples

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Along with a use case deep dive, we identify the remote job opportunities, top news, tools, and articles in the TechOps industry.

IN TODAY'S EDITION

🧠 Use Case

• Implementing AWS Single Sign-On (SSO) Crash Course

🚀 Top News

• Splunk Enterprise Security 8.0 is Now Generally Available

  With simplified processes and industry alignment, the latest release integrates automation, unified interfaces, and enhanced detections to streamline threat management.

👀 Remote Jobs

• GitLab is hiring a Site Reliability Engineer

  Remote Location: APAC

• Recruiter4You is hiring a DevOps Engineer

  Remote Location: Worldwide

📚️ Resources

• Terraform Beginner to Mid Level Quiz

  Test your knowledge of Terraform concepts with this quiz, including IaC, providers, state files, and modules. Ideal for DevOps engineers and developers looking to deepen their Terraform expertise.

• Ditch Git Checkout: Use Git Switch and Git Restore Instead

  The dual purpose nature of git checkout often causes confusion, blending branch management with file restoration. Learn how git switch and git restore provide clear, focused commands for a streamlined workflow.

• Enhancing Container Security with Docker Scout and Secure Repositories

  The article explores how Docker Scout improves container security with early vulnerability detection, compliance checks, and continuous monitoring for streamlined, secure deployments.

🛠️ TOOL OF THE DAY

Terragoat - Vulnerable by Design Terraform repository. A learning project showcasing how configuration errors can reach prod in cloud environments.

• For learning and training purposes ONLY

• DO NOT deploy TerraGoat in a production environment or alongside any sensitive AWS resources.

🧠 USE CASE

Implementing AWS Single Sign-On (SSO) Crash Course

If you’re still manually setting up IAM users and juggling access keys to manage access in AWS, it’s time to rethink your approach.

AWS IAM Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO) simplifies how you manage access to your AWS accounts and applications.

It integrates with an identity store, such as AWS Identity Center’s built-in user directory or external identity providers like Microsoft Active Directory (now called Entra ID) or Okta, to manage user identities.

Instead of creating individual IAM users and handling long-term access keys, users log in once through a secure web portal. They are then granted temporary credentials to access AWS resources and business applications.

In short:

Traditional approach: Create IAM users for each account, manage keys, and update permissions everywhere.

With IAM Identity Center: Users log in once at a central portal (e.g., https://techopsexamples.businessapps.com/login), select the account and role they need from a simple interface, and immediately gain secure, temporary access to AWS resources - no keys, no hassle.

What about Security ?

IAM Policies define what actions are allowed or denied for a user or role on specific resources.

In IAM Identity Center, these policies - both AWS Managed Policies and Customer Managed Policies are applied at different levels.

AWS Managed Policies
These are predefined policies by AWS designed for common roles and use cases.

For example, AdministratorAccess grants full control of all resources, while ReadOnlyAccess limits users to view-only permissions.

Managed policies are ideal for quick, standardized access but may not cover unique requirements.

Customer Managed Policies
These are custom policies you define for specific access needs. For instance, a policy might be used in a permission set assigned to a group for accessing a specific S3 bucket.

Find a sample Customer Managed Policy here

With SSO, these policies can be centrally managed and applied across accounts, ensuring consistency and reducing administrative overhead.

Best Practice: Assign permissions to groups, not users and regularly audit permissions.

Why SSO is a Secure Choice:

User Login (Mandatory MFA, enabled by default )

↓

SSO Portal Session (Set Auto expiry)

↓

Temporary Credentials (Bounded Scope)

↓

AWS Access

Every access is:

• Verified (you confirm your identity)

• Permissioned (you get only the access you need)

• Tracked (every login and activity is logged)

• Time Limited (credentials automatically expire)

It is Covered under the AWS Free Tier - Try it out !

You may even like:

Security Researcher Exposed AWS Keys and API Secrets of $1B VC Firm in 5 Clicks 

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